PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION Select approval stage PART 1: COURSE SUMMARY INFORMATION Course summary Final award Intermediate award Course status Awarding body School Location of study/ campus Partner institution(s) BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance BSc, DipHE, CertHE, Accounting and Finance Validated University of Brighton Brighton Business School Moulsecoomb Name of institution Host department Course status 1. SELECT 2. 3. Admissions Admissions agency Entry requirements Include any progression opportunities into the course. UCAS Check the University s website for current entry requirements. Entry requirements are in the range of A-Level BBC-CCC (112-96 UCAS tariff points); or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM - MMM. Plus: GCSE: Maths and English Language at Grade 4 or above For non-native speakers of English : English Language Requirement: IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in other elements). Or International Baccalaureate: 28 points with 16 at Higher level. Applicants without English Language will need to gain a minimum grade 4 in HL English or a minimum grade 5 in SL English on IB. Or French Baccalaureate: All Courses: 12/20 credits. Or via Access course (with 24 credits at merit). Or Other progression agreements approved by Brighton Business School and the University of Brighton. Or Other: Mature, 21 years or over, applicants without the above qualifications should be able to show an ability to benefit from the course by, for example, work or professional experience. All mature applicants are considered on an individual basis. International students may also gain entry via completing pathway courses at The University of Brighton International College. For more information see: http://www.kic.org.uk/brighton/ Start date (mmm-yy) Normally September September 2018 Page 1 of 14
Mode of study Mode of study Duration of study (standard) Maximum registration period Full-time 3 years 8 years Part-time Select Select Sandwich 4 years 10 years Distance Select Select Course codes/categories UCAS code Contacts Course Leader (or Course Development Leader) Admissions Tutor Examination and Assessment N420 Sue Endean Central Admissions Team Name Place of work Date tenure expires External Examiner(s) Prof Ian Dewing Dr Mark Rhodes UEA Leeds Beckett Uni September 2020 30/09/2019 Management Accounting EE TBC TBC Examination Board(s) (AEB/CEB) UG AFLM Programmes Examination/Award Board Approval and review Approval date Review date Validation 1980 1 March 2022 2 Programme Specification June 2017 3 June 2018 4 Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 1 (if applicable): Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 2 (if applicable): Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 3 (if applicable): 5 1 Date of original validation. 2 Date of most recent periodic review (normally academic year of validation + 5 years). 3 Month and year this version of the programme specification was approved (normally September). 4 Date programme specification will be reviewed (normally approval date + 1 year). If programme specification is applicable to a particular cohort, please state here. 5 Date of most recent review by accrediting/ approving external body. Page 2 of 14
PART 2: COURSE DETAILS AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES Aims The aims of the course are: - To provide a programme of study in accounting and finance, which has an underlying vocational focus and is designed for students intending to pursue a career as an accountant, financial manager or in any other area where financial information and decision-making are a central element. - To enable students to develop an analytical awareness of activities within a global business environment and within the specialism of accounting and finance. - To provide an academic base, which will enable students to meet the challenges of new ideas and problems arising in subsequent employment. - To help graduates to make an effective contribution in terms of employment, using personal and communication skills. Learning outcomes The outcomes of the main award provide information about how the primary aims are demonstrated by students following the course. These are mapped to external reference points where appropriate 6. Knowledge and theory On completion of the degree, students will have demonstrated: LO1 An understanding of the contexts in which accounting and finance can be seen to be operating, in particular, the legal environment, the business entity, the ethical and social environment and the capital markets. LO2 Knowledge and understanding of the main current technical language and practices of accounting, in particular, recognition, measurement and disclosure in financial statements, managerial accounting, auditing, and taxation and in a socio-economic domain specified above. LO3 Knowledge and understanding of some of the alternative technical languages and practices of accounting, for example, alternative recognition rules and valuation bases and alternative managerial accounting approaches to control and decision-making. LO4 Knowledge of skills in recording and summarising transactions and other economic events; preparation of financial statements; analysis and the operations of business, in particular, decision analysis, performance measurement and management control; financial analysis and projections, in particular, analysis of financial ratios, discounted cash flow analysis, budgeting and financial risks. LO5 Knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and empirical evidence concerning accounting and finance in the contexts 6 Please refer to Course Development and Review Handbook or QAA website for details. Page 3 of 14
of accounting and capital markets and accounting and the firm; and the ability to critically evaluate such theories and evidence. LO6 Knowledge and understanding of the problems associated with investment decisions, the raising of finance and the management of financial resources and risk. LO7 Knowledge and understanding of theories and empirical evidence concerning financial management, risk and the operation of capital markets Skills Includes intellectual skills (i.e. generic skills relating to academic study, problem solving, evaluation, research etc.) and professional/ practical skills. On completion of the degree students will be able to demonstrate: S1 Critical and analytical thinking and the ability to recognise where the particular skills or ideas learned on the course may be relevant to solving a new problem. S2 The ability to analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and, to a more limited extent, unstructured problems from a given set of data which must be acquired by the student. S3 The ability to locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources, including the acknowledgement and referencing of sources. S4 The capacity for independent and self-managed learning. S5 Numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data and to appreciate the statistical concepts at an appropriate level. S6 Skills in the use of communications and information technology, in particular, the use of spread-sheets, word processing software and on-line databases. S7 Communication skills, including the ability to present quantitative and qualitative information, together with analysis and commentary. S8 The ability to work in groups, and other inter-personal skills, including oral as well as written presentation skills. QAA subject benchmark statement (where applicable) 7 Accounting (2016) PROFESSIONAL, STATUTORY AND REGULATORY BODIES (where applicable) Where a course is accredited by a PSRB, full details of how the course meets external requirements, and what students are required to undertake, are included. Exemptions from professional institutions The BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree has been assessed by the UK professional 7 Please refer to the QAA website for details. Page 4 of 14
accountancy bodies and graduates are offered exemptions from many of the professional examinations. During the March 2017 Periodic Review there have been no major changes to those modules on which the main exemptions are given. The Course Leader does not envisage any changes to the exemptions which are given at present. These are as follows: Exemptions from Professional Examinations of CIMA Subject to approval - see above The CIMA examination scheme has been reviewed in 2015 and the following exemptions are given at present. Students are expected to obtain exemption from the foundation level (Certificate in Business Accounting) as follows: Paper C01 Fundamentals of Management Accounting Paper C02 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting Paper C03 Fundamentals of Business Mathematics Paper C04 Fundamentals of Business Economics Paper C05 Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law For the Operational and Management Level, the exemptions expected are as follows: Paper P1 Management Accounting Paper P2 Advanced Management Accounting Paper F1 Financial Reporting and Taxation If FA362 taken Paper F2 Advanced Financial Reporting Exemptions are not available for the remaining Operational and Management Level papers: Paper E1 Paper E2 Organisational Management Project and Relationship Management Students will also have to take (with CIMA) the Operational Level Case Study exam and the Management Case Study exam. Strategic (final) Level CIMA does not grant exemptions from this level: Paper E3 Strategic Management Paper P3 Risk Management Paper F3 Financial Strategy And final level case study. Website: www.cimaglobal.com Exemptions from Professional Examinations of ACCA Subject to approval - see above Students will obtain exemptions from Fundamentals Level Knowledge (papers F1 to F3). For Fundamentals Level - Skills, the exemptions granted are as follows: Paper F4 Corporate & Business Law Page 5 of 14
Paper F5 Performance Management Paper F6 Taxation Exemption if FA362 Taxation is passed Paper F7 Financial Reporting Paper F8 Audit & Assurance Exemption if FA364 Audit & Assurance is passed Paper F9 Financial Management ACCA does not grant exemptions from Part 3 (Professional): Paper P1 Governance, Risk and Ethics Paper P2 Corporate Reporting Paper P3 Business Analysis Paper P4 Advanced Financial Management Paper P5 Advanced Performance Management Paper P6 Advanced Taxation Paper P7 Advanced Audit & Assurance Note: papers P1 to P3 are essential/core papers and papers P4 to P7 are option papers. Candidates must sit the three core papers and two option papers. Website: www.accaglobal.com Brighton Business School offers Professional Level courses for students wishing to continue their studies with ACCA qualifications in mind. Exemptions from Professional Examinations of ICAEW Subject to approval - see above The ICAEW examination scheme has been updated from 2015. For the Professional Stage papers the exemptions granted are as follows: Accounting Assurance Management Information Law Principles of Taxation Financial Management Business and Finance Exemption - FA364 Audit & Assurance Exemption - FA362 Taxation To apply for exemption students will need to have achieved a minimum mark of 50% in all modules needed for exemption with at least 40% in all the assessed elements. However if a student achieves at least a 2.1 degree classification then exemption for Business and Finance will be awarded on application to the ICAEW. Website: www.icaew.com Exemptions from Professional Examinations of CIPFA Subject to approval - see above Students will obtain exemptions from: Page 6 of 14
Professional Certificate Financial Accounting Management Accounting Financial Reporting Audit and Assurance Professional Diploma Financial Management Corporate Governance and Law Taxation Exemption if FA364 Audit & Assurance is passed Exemption if FA362 Taxation is passed Website: www.cipfa.org.uk Exemptions from Professional Examination of AIA Subject to approval see above Association of International Accountants (AIA) all 12 papers if the degree is completed with FA362 and FA363/FA364 chosen. Website: www.aiaworldwide.com LEARNING AND TEACHING Learning and teaching methods This section sets out the primary learning and teaching methods, including total learning hours and any specific requirements in terms of practical/ clinical-based learning. The indicative list of learning and teaching methods includes information on the proportion of the course delivered by each method and details where a particular method relates to a particular element of the course. All modules will involve a combination of taught sessions and guided independent study. For a typical module, approximately a quarter of the 200 hours comprises taught sessions (2 hours per week for a 20 credit module running throughout the year). The remainder is guided independent study (which includes all work for assessment e.g. coursework and examination preparation). Values and philosophy: The course encompasses the underlying values of inclusivity, employability and sustainability with the aim of inculcating an underpinning of Practical Wisdom in the Business Graduates of the future. Students will encounter practical, real-life problems that will prepare them for the complexities of decision-making in a changing global business environment. Students start level 4 with an induction programme where academic expectations are clarified so that students feel part of our academic community from day one. A team-building day is organised early in level 4 where students are part of groups which help integrate them and feel welcome within the student body. Each student is allocated a personal tutor who supports them throughout their degree advising them regarding choice of electives and building their skills portfolio. Students with special needs are supported through individual Learning Support Plans. Texts, case studies and other teaching materials reflect the diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds of our student body. The core assessment map offers diverse assessment methods compliant with Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSBRs); students can make considered choices regarding assessment, with Page 7 of 14
support from Personal Tutors, when planning their journey via the elective module options. Assessment criteria are available to students before each assignment and exam formats and typical content can be accessed through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Feedback is provided in a timely fashion in line with University policy, usually via the VLE, StudentCentral. Formative assessments take a variety of forms. Predominantly, these are: Individual or group presentation; Individual/group essay Group/individual report Mock examination (partial or complete, online or paper based) Feedback for presentations can take many forms including: verbal, direct from tutors Peer-to-peer in class, immediately after the presentation. In some cases feedback may be presented later in written or oral form through the VLE. Individual and group written work is uploaded to the VLE and feedback is provided in a timely fashion in line with University policy either verbally or orally using the designated feedback tools. Further information on total learning hours and proportions of the course delivered by each method is available through UniStats. Formative assessment runs across most modules and includes presentations, essays, tests (some online) and peer reviews. Please see module specifications for details. ASSESSMENT Assessment methods This section sets out the summative assessment methods on the course and includes details on where to find further information on the criteria used in assessing coursework. It also provides an assessment matrix which reflects the variety of modes of assessment, and the volume of assessment in the course. Learning Outcome Assessment method Module Number of credits Level 4 LOs 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 Ss 5,6 and 7 LO1,2,3,4, and 5 Ss 5 and 6 70% Unseen exam 30% Coursework portfolio exercises 70% Unseen exam 30% Coursework portfolio exercises FA164 20 MA162 20 Ss 5, 6 and 7 3 unseen exams FN142 20 LOs 1 and 5 Ss 3 (and 8?) LO 2 Ss 1, 7 and 8 Ss 1,2,3,4,6 and 8 60% Unseen, closed book exam 40% Group coursework (with individual element) 100% Unseen exam with seen case study (50% of exam) 100% individual coursework consisting of; Literature Review (50%) EC161 20 HR175 20 ML150 20 Page 8 of 14
Level 5 Employability Portfolio (50%) LOs 2,3,4 and 5 Ss 2,3,4,5 and 6 LOs 1 and 2 Ss 6 and 7 LOs 1,2,3,4,5, 6 and 7 Ss 5 and 6 LOs 1,2,3 and 4 Ss 2 and 3 LO1 Ss 2,3 and 7 LOs 1, 4 and 6 Ss 1,4,5 and 7 LOs 1 and 4 Ss 1,2,3,4,6,7 and 8 LOs 1,5, 6 and 7 Ss 2,3 5 and 6 70% Unseen exam 30% Individual essay 70% Unseen exam 30% Coursework - project 100% Two unseen exams (equal weighting) 70% exam 30% coursework 100% Two unseen exams (equal weighting) 100% Unseen exam with seen case study (50% of exam paper) FA283 20 MA283 20 FN281 20 FA265 20 LW270 20 FA266 (Elective) 20 100% coursework CA266 (Elective) 20 100% Two individual assignments(equal weighting) FN285 (Elective) 20 Level 6 LOs 2,3,4 and 5 Ss 1,2,3,5,6 and 7 LOs 2,3,4 and 5 Ss 1,2,3,5 and 8 LOs 1,5,6 and 7 Ss 1,2,3,5 and 6 70% Unseen exam 30% Individual essay 70% Unseen exam 30% Individual case study 100% Two unseen exams (equal weighting) FA360 20 MA360 20 FN368 20 Elective 20 Elective 20 Elective 20 SUPPORT AND INFORMATION Institutional/ University Course-specific Additional support, specifically where courses have nontraditional patterns of delivery (e.g. distance learning and work-based learning) include: benefit from: University induction week Student Handbook: the University and you Course Handbook Extensive library facilities Computer pool rooms (indicate number of workstations by site) E-mail address Welfare service Personal tutor for advice and guidance In addition, students on this course benefit from: Please refer to information held in studentcentral. Page 9 of 14
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PART 3: COURSE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS COURSE STRUCTURE This section includes an outline of the structure of the programme, including stages of study and progression points. Course Leaders may choose to include a structure diagram here. Modules Status: M = Mandatory (modules which must be taken and passed to be eligible for the award) C = Compulsory (modules which must be taken to be eligible for the award) O = Optional (optional modules) A = Additional (modules which must be taken to be eligible for an award accredited by a professional, statutory or regulatory body, including any non-credit bearing modules) * Optional modules listed are indicative only and may be subject to change, depending on timetabling and staff availability Level 8 Module code Status Module title Credit 4 FA164 C Financial Accounting 20 4 MA162 C Management Accounting 20 4 EC161 C Economics 20 4 FN142 C Financial Skills 20 4 HR175 C Managing Organisations & People in the Financial Sector 4 ML150 C Academic & Professional Skills 20 20 5 FA283 C Financial Accounting & Reporting 20 5 MA283 C Management Accounting Systems 20 5 FN281 C Financial Management 20 5 FA265 C Business Ethics & Corporate Governance 20 5 LW270 C Corporate & Business Law 20 5 FA266 O Personal Financial Planning 20 5 CA266 O Business Planning Case Study 20 5 FN285 O Financial Modelling and Trading 20 6 FA360 C Financial Reporting: Theory & Practice 20 6 MA360 C Management Control Systems 20 6 FN368 C Finance & Risk Management 20 Specialist Optional modules: 6 CA362 O Advanced Case Study * 20 6 DB319 O Placement Project * 20 8 All modules have learning outcomes commensurate with the FHEQ levels 0, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. List the level which corresponds with the learning outcomes of each module. Page 11 of 14
* If students have completed a Placement Project (DB319) would not normally complete the Advanced Case Study (CA362) 6 FA364 O Audit & Assurance 20 6 FA362 O Taxation 20 6 ST363 O Corporate Strategy 20 6 FN380 O International Finance 20 6 FN372 O Investment Management 20 6 EC364 O Game Theory in Finance & Business 20 Page 12 of 14
AWARD AND CLASSIFICATION Award type Award* Title Level Eligibility for award Classification of award Final BSc (Hons) Total credits 9 Minimum credits 10 Ratio of marks 11 : Class of award Accounting & Finance 6 Total credit 360 Minimum credit at level of award 120 Final BSc Accounting & Finance 6 Total credit 300 Minimum credit at level of award 120 Intermediate DipHE Accounting & Finance 5 Total credit 240 Minimum credit at level of award 120 Intermediate CertHE Accounting & Finance 4 Total credit 120 Minimum credit at level of award 120 Select Select Total credit Select Minimum credit at level of award Select *Foundation degrees only Progression routes from award: Levels 5 and 6 (25:75) Levels 5 and 6 (25:75) Level 5 marks Level 4 marks Select Honours degree Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Award classifications Mark/ band % Foundation degree Honours degree Postgraduate 12 degree (excludes PGCE and BM BS) 70% - 100% Distinction First (1) Distinction 60% - 69.99% Merit Upper second (2:1) Merit 50% - 59.99% Lower second (2:2) Pass 40% - 49.99% Third (3) Pass Select 9 Total number of credits required to be eligible for the award. 10 Minimum number of credits required, at level of award, to be eligible for the award. 11 Algorithm used to determine the classification of the final award (all marks are credit-weighted). For a Masters degree, the mark for the final element (e.g, dissertation) must be in the corresponding class of award. 12 Refers to taught provision: PG Cert, PG Dip, Masters. Page 13 of 14
EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS Please refer to the Course Approval and Review Handbook when completing this section. The examination and assessment regulations for the course should be in accordance with the University s General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses (available from staffcentral or studentcentral). Specific regulations which materially affect assessment, progression and award on the course e.g. Where referrals or repeat of modules are not permitted in line with the University s General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses. Exceptions required by PSRB These require the approval of the Chair of the Academic Board Exceptions to General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR): Normally a pass mark of 40% with 35% threshold on Level 5 and Level 6. Normally a pass mark of 40%, minimum of 35% threshold on Level 5 and Level 6 modules. Document template revised August 2017